Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Posted By on Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 10:12 AM


Hopefully you’ve at least gone to the grocery store by now, because there may not be any worse time to be braving the cart-congested aisles than the night before Thanksgiving. If not — or if you’re simply feeling anxious that you’ve missed planning something specific for Thursday’s big feast — we’ve rounded up some helpful features from around the foodie web.

Last-minute cooks can rejoice over 
click to enlarge ENTRÉE: Getting ready for Turkey Day, and lots of leftovers
The New York Times
Leftover turkey can be repurposed into many other meals, like this salad.
this handy resource from the culinary writers at the New York Times, which offers a guide to making your full meal, from the turkey to dessert, all at once over an 8-hour cooking marathon the morning before dinner.

The Times also offers up some tasty suggestions on taking full advantage of all those leftovers.

From the hive mind at Tasty, check out this overview of some easy and fast vegetable sides, like microwaved corn-on-the-cob, along with pan-fried broccoli and roasted carrots. All three take less than 20 minutes.

For a delicious use for all that leftover turkey, check out this recipe from Tasty for turkey skillet pot pie with buttermilk biscuits — yum!

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Friday, November 10, 2017

Also in local food news: U of Idaho students create inventive Thanksgiving Day recipes

Posted By on Fri, Nov 10, 2017 at 3:34 PM


MARYHILL WINERY OPENS KENDALL YARDS SPOT NEXT WEEKEND

click to enlarge ENTRÉE: Maryhill Winery’s new Spokane tasting room debuts next weekend (2)
Facebook: Maryhill Winery
An interior sneak peek of the Spokane tasting room, opening to the public on Saturday, Nov. 18.
Just in time for the start of the holiday season, a new downtown Spokane tasting room for the Goldendale, Washington-based Maryhill Winery hosts its grand opening next weekend, Nov. 18-19.

Overlooking the Spokane River, the new tasting room is located at 1030 W. Summit Pkwy. (between Spa Paradiso and Nectar Beer and Wine), and starting next Saturday will be open daily from noon to 8 pm. Maryhill’s Spokane home — its first and only satellite location — encompasses a new, 5,000-square-foot space that’s been under construction for the better part of this year.

The award-winning winery is owned by Spokane natives Craig and Vicki Leuthold, who decided to open the Spokane location to meet increased demand for their products. Founded in 1999, opening two years later in 2001, Maryhill is one of Washington state’s largest wineries, producing more than 80,000 cases a year.

“While we’re deeply tied to the Columbia River Gorge, we’re also very rooted in our hometown of Spokane,” Craig Leuthold says. “We feel right at home at Kendall Yards, and designed our tasting room to fit in with this beautiful community. Our tasting room is an inviting and relaxing place to experience our award-winning wines.”

Maryhill Wine Club members will now be able to pick up their cases at the Spokane location, which also will regularly host wine club events, as well as public and private gatherings. The upcoming grand opening weekend celebration will feature the first of many live concerts at the venue, with music by singer-songwriter Matt Brown both evenings. Come spring, the winery’s gorge-facing balcony will be yet another scenic location for visitors to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Spokane River and the downtown skyline. The tasting room also plans to serve small plates featuring local ingredients.

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Thursday, October 26, 2017

Posted By on Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 4:11 PM


Help send Spokane chef Jeremy Hansen to Puerto Rico.

This Friday, the chef-owner of several Spokane restaurants — Santé Restaurant & Charcuterie, Inland Pacific Kitchen, Hogwash Whiskey Den, Common Crumb Bakery and two forthcoming spots in the Ridpath — and his team are hosting a fundraiser dinner (see more details and how to make reservations below) to support continuing, widespread efforts to support residents of the U.S. territory, many whom are still severely suffering after being devastated by Hurricane Maria last month.

Specifically, Hansen and a small team of professionals in the local restaurant industry are traveling to do what they do best: cook. For most of next month, the team will join efforts led by internationally known chef José Andrés, whose World Central Kitchen has been cooking meals for the thousands of Puerto Ricans still lacking critical aid — including food and water — all across the island. Read more about World Central Kitchen’s ongoing aid efforts over the past month here.

“We decided to support this cause because feeding people is what we do for a living,” Hansen says. “I don’t think the government is giving the help it needs, so I will. …We have always been people to help those in need if possible, and it is something I’d do for the rest of my life if given the opportunity. And now that I do, I’m taking it. We are busy, but not busy enough to sit back and just watch a whole island of people suffer.”

Money raised from the dinner and any other donations will mostly be used to help World Central Kitchen purchase needed supplies, Hansen says, and to distribute meals across the island. Flights and lodging for Hansen and his team have already been covered; once there, they’ll all donate their time and skills in the kitchen.

“They are feeding tens of thousands a day, so our funds will be minuscule compared to what they need, but it will help,” he says.

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Thursday, October 19, 2017

Posted By on Thu, Oct 19, 2017 at 4:49 PM

click to enlarge ENTRÉE: A roundup of new local places to eat and drink, or coming very soon
Maryhill Winery
A rendering of the forthcoming Maryhill Winery tasting room, opening in Kendall Yards later this year.

It may seem like there’s always a lot going on in the regional food and drink scene — that’s because there is! We’re always on the lookout for the newest local places opening and offering tasty bites to sate all appetites, as well as other interesting developments and news in the culinary community. So, since it’s been a while, let’s round up what to keep an eye on, and what to check out now:

Work to spruce up a former Shari’s restaurant location on the corner of Monroe Street and Northwest Boulevard finally culminated with the opening of the MONROE STREET GRILL last week. The locally owned spot specializes in hand-pressed burgers, seafood and other classic American fare: soups, salads, sandwiches and more. Stay tuned for more on the new spot in the Inlander in the coming weeks.

We’re also aware of a few noteworthy, forthcoming openings on the horizon, including a new sushi spot in Coeur d’Alene, to be located in the former home of Bonsai Bistro on Sherman Avenue, near the resort. MOMO - SUSHI . WOK . GRILL is set to open sometime later this year, and its owners — recent transplants to the Inland Northwest — plan to serve sushi and other pan-Asian fare.

Fans of the cheesy, buttery goodness of local food truck Mac Daddy’s Gourmet Grub can start the countdown for a permanent stand-alone location heading to Spokane’s North Side. MAC DADDY’S GOURMET PUB & GRILL is moving into a space at the Fairwood Shopping Center near Mead High School; follow the location’s Facebook page (previous link) for the latest updates.

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Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Posted By on Tue, Oct 17, 2017 at 11:58 AM

Shout-out to anyone on a budget because of your job/student loans/expensive rent/life:

We may eat cheap, but that doesn't mean we can't make some bitchin' food.

To share some of the best food budget hacks I know, I'll be attempting a semi-regular blog featuring affordable recipes and meal-planning tips, which will mostly consist of sharing whatever weird food habit I'm in that month or week. My tastes might not align with yours, or the season, but I'm totally open to suggestions if you've got 'em (hit me up at samanthaw@inlander.com if you have ideas or questions).

Most of the time I'll try to make meals that cost $2 or less per serving, with an eye on making meals you can reheat for lunch or dinner. Making the meals ahead will also save on cooking time during the week.

For this first installment, I'm going to brag on one of my all-time favorite ways to make your dollar go further: the rotisserie chicken.

THE MIGHTY ROTISSERIE CHICKEN
Most grocery stores have these babies hot and ready by the time you get off work, and while they're delicious right out of the container, there are a few things you can do to get even more out of that tasty bird.

The one I got this week ran me about $7 at Safeway. With a few other pantry staples (mayo, pepper, seasonings) and fresh veggies, here's how I make several meals from the same chicken:

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Thursday, October 12, 2017

Posted By on Thu, Oct 12, 2017 at 2:48 PM

click to enlarge ENTRÉE: Dry Fly celebrates 10 years, plus some fun beer events for the weekend
Dry Fly has been distilling hyper-local spirits since 2007.

One of the region’s pioneers in the “drink local” movement is celebrating a full decade of bringing award-winning, ultra-local libations to bars near and far.

Dry Fly Distilling marks its big 10-year milestone officially this Friday, Oct. 13, but the party is happening all week with special events, small-batch, barrel-aged releases and discounts on purchases made at its East Spokane headquarters and tasting room, open Mon-Sat from noon-8 pm.

Lest you’ve forgotten, Dry Fly became the first distillery to open in Washington state since Prohibition (which ended in 1933) when founders Kent Fleischmann and Don Poffenroth pooled their retirement savings to open the craft distillery in 2007.

While festivities kicked off earlier this week, you can still join the celebration by stopping by the distillery’s tasting room between now and Saturday, Oct. 14. If you’re reading this information the day it’s released, Thursday, Oct. 12, you can still catch a pro bartender competition at the tasting room, taking place this evening from 6-8 pm.

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Friday, October 6, 2017

Posted By on Fri, Oct 6, 2017 at 8:58 AM


TASTE LIMITED-RELEASE BEERS AT THE BLACKBIRD INVITATIONAL

Tickets to the Blackbird Invitational, a special new beer and food showcase, may be limited, but as of this writing there are still some to be found.

Next weekend’s event, taking place on Sat, Oct. 14 from 3-7 pm, offers attendees the chance to sample rare, barrel-aged, fresh-hop and other one-off beers from some of the region’s most esteemed breweries. Small bites to pair with beer will be prepared by the Blackbird Kitchen + Tavern’s culinary team, led by Chef Molly Patrick.

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Thursday, September 28, 2017

Posted By on Thu, Sep 28, 2017 at 3:01 PM

click to enlarge Taste the region's culinary capability at this weekend's Restaurant Wars II
Courtesy Kris Kilduff
The 2017 version of Restaurant Wars features 18 restaurants from across the Inland Northwest.

Pick a “side” during this weekend’s second annual Restaurant Wars

After it surpassed expectations during an inaugural run last year, the second inception of the local culinary competition and showcase known as Restaurant Wars is back, with more restaurants, more entertainment and more space.

Happening this Saturday, Sept. 30, on the outfield of Avista Stadium (last year’s debut event along Summit Parkway in Kendall Yards proved to be too small), the 2017 version of Restaurant Wars features 18 local restaurants (compared to last year’s eight; scroll down for a complete list) from across the Spokane area.

With those featured eateries separated into three “rations” categories — vegetarian, meat and gastropub — guests have the option to purchase tasting tickets for one, two or all three categories. Tickets ($17 each/advance; $20/gate) to each category offer six 3- to 4-ounce small plates from each category’s six restaurants.

Restaurant Wars organizer Kris Kilduff cautions that only 1,000 tickets per category are being sold, so those who plan to go to this year’s event should consider pre-purchasing online to ensure they get access to the categories of their choice. Remaining tasting tickets will be sold at the event, offering free admission and other attractions to entertain guests who choose to sample as many bites as they can, as well as people who want to enjoy a fall day outside.

The eight-hour, all-ages event includes a live music lineup, an on-site farmers/vendor market — including local food trucks, if you’re still hungry or miss tickets to one category — and a beer garden with nine local breweries and one cider maker.

The competitive nature of Restaurant Wars comes in the form of voting, both by guest judges and ticket holders, who have the option to vote for their favorite dishes in each of the three tasting categories they sample. One event-wide winner will also be chosen, Kilduff says.

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Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Posted By on Wed, Sep 20, 2017 at 2:57 PM


Not that Spokane needs any validation from outsiders — really! we don't! — but it's always nice when someone from outside the region recognizes the inherent awesomeness of the Inland Northwest.

Case in point: this new feature on Food & Wine magazine's website about the wonders of our food and beer scene. The writer, David Landsel, hems and haws a bit about the city's rough reputation before getting to the good stuff and pointing out that the food and drink scene is "so much better than most visitors will be expecting."

"You'll find a great little scene in Spokane," Landsel writes. "Plenty of source-conscious, farm-to-table dining, great farmers markets, not to mention a whole slew of the sort of coffee shops, craft breweries and urban wineries you'd hope to find in this part of the world."

He goes on to name-check Steel Barrel Taproom, the Wandering Table and Barrister Winery, among other Spokane spots.

You can read the entire piece here.

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Friday, September 1, 2017

Posted By on Fri, Sep 1, 2017 at 2:54 PM

click to enlarge A new head chef takes the reins at the Davenport Grand
Young Kwak
Chef Ian Wingate leaves big shoes to fill.

Ian Wingate, one of the region’s most respected chefs who developed the Davenport Grand’s Table 13, has left the hotel and moved to the west side of the state to start a new restaurant venture there.

Taking the helm is Evan Tewel, who had worked side by side with Wingate as his sous-chef when launching Table 13, according to Matt Jensen, director of sales and marketing for Davenport Hotels. Most recently, Tewel worked at the Historic Davenport Hotel, running its Palm Court Grill.

Wingate did not return phone messages seeking comment, but Jensen wished him well: “He’ll certainly be missed. He’s a very creative guy and is absolutely in his element in the kitchen, and it showed in the product he produced.”
A new head chef takes the reins at the Davenport Grand
Evan Tewel

Wingate had previously made a name for himself having opened several local restaurants, including Moxie, Agave Bistro, Blue Fish and the Inn at Sand Creek in Sandpoint. The Inlander last featured him in a story in 2015, under the headline "Comeback Chef," detailing his revival at the Davenport after having been sidelined with health issues.

Like Wingate, Tewel brings a passion for fresh and local foods to the position, which oversees both Table 13 and the hotel’s Grand Restaurant, Jensen says. “He certainly knows the lay of the land there,” he says of Tewel, “and we’re excited to see what he does in the future.”

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Evening Light Lavender Festival 2025 @ Evening Light Lavender Farm

Sat., July 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun., July 13, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
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